That is just the way i have always done it i guess, i only use hardy fish like platy and i have yet to have one die on me. I just figured if i do daily water changes to make up for the few fish in there it and test it 1-2x a day. I know i should have waited but i have my whole other tank used up well actually two, one has fry in it and the other has a male betta in it who cant get along with anyone so he gets my other biggerish tank to himself with just a clown pleco in it, i had many of them in there but i had to move them to the uncycled tank cuz the betta would beat them up all the time and im not just gonna throw him in a small cup. The only thing that is worrying me is the high levels of no2 nitrite but my ammonia is under .25 and i just checked the no3 the nitrates and they are up around 10 or 15 so doesnt that mean its getting close to being cycled? When i did start that tank i changed the filter in my smalled tank and put the dirty filter in my uncycled tank cuz it has two slots figureing it would jump start it faster.